[NZ_JOHN]

In TSRE Activity Editor settings there is a field "Horn at Crossing" Tick Box
A nice to have feature as well would be "Horn at Whistle Boards" Tick Box
Anyone support this?

[Csantucci]

The problem is that whistle boards AFAIK aren't an interactive; in other words, OR has no way to know where the whistle boards are located. What you can do is setting a horn blow waiting point for every whistle point for every path, which unfortunately is a long procedure.

[darwins]

Is it not possible to add a new type of interactive object? Obviously this could only be placed on new routes (or in some cases edited into existing route updates) but still might be worth a thought.

[ebnertra000]

 Weter, on 28 October 2021 - 01:27 PM, said:

Well, I recall Sandpafch payware route.
During activity, when player doesn't blow horn, when passing whistle post, the activity terminates with fault report -j ust similar with, e.g. derailment, or steam engine failure.
Hence, MSTS dId know something about whistle posts, or?

That was more than likely the level crossing object having a crash probability higher than 0. I tried this in OR once and just got errors in the log

[Csantucci]

 darwins, on 28 October 2021 - 01:14 AM, said:

Is it not possible to add a new type of interactive object? Obviously this could only be placed on new routes (or in some cases edited into existing route updates) but still might be worth a thought.

This would require modifying TSRE5, whose development seems to be stalled ATM.

A solution could be to use fake, hidden level crossings in addition to the static whistle boards.

[Traindude]

If we're talking about horn/whistle automation on AI trains in general, I'd love to see some other automated horn signals, for example:

• Two short blasts while standing, indicating that the train is about to move forward
  
• Three short blasts while standing, indicating the train is about to move backward
  
• One short blast after coming to a stop, indicating the locomotive is "set and centered" (meaning that the brakes are fully applied and the locomotive's reverser is in the center or neutral position) and it's safe to load/unload passengers
  
• One long continuous blast while approaching stations, junctions, tunnels, drawbridges, etc.

Another thing I'd like to see is AI train bell automation. According to the AAR standard consolidated code of operating rules' rule 30:

Quote

Except where the stop and start, forward or backward, is part of a switching movement, the engine bell must be rung when the engine is about to move; while passing through stations, tunnels and snow sheds; while approaching public crossings at grade beginning sufficiently in advance to afford ample warning, but not less than 1500 feet before reaching such crossing; and where required by special instructions.

IOW, in addition to sounding the horn at the crossings, the locomotive bell must also be rung, even if the crossing signal has its own bell. One general rule of thumb is whenever you sound the horn, you must also ring the bell (this is why on modern locomotives, the bell automatically starts ringing when the horn is sounded, aka MSTS' "DoesHornTriggerBell" parameter). The bell is also sounded when moving through a yard, and whenever there are people or workers near the tracks.

[ebnertra000]

If such an automatic horn setup were put into place, it would have to be customizable, since signals vary by location and era

[NZ_JOHN]

Also in New Zealand when the horn is blown the forward facing marker (Side) lights on the lead Loco flash for about 20 seconds

[Laci1959]

 Traindude, on 31 October 2021 - 05:21 PM, said:

If we're talking about horn/whistle automation on AI trains in general, I'd love to see some other automated horn signals, for example:

• Two short blasts while standing, indicating that the train is about to move forward
  
• Three short blasts while standing, indicating the train is about to move backward
  
• One short blast after coming to a stop, indicating the locomotive is "set and centered" (meaning that the brakes are fully applied and the locomotive's reverser is in the center or neutral position) and it's safe to load/unload passengers
  
• One long continuous blast while approaching stations, junctions, tunnels, drawbridges, etc.

Another thing I'd like to see is AI train bell automation. According to the AAR standard consolidated code of operating rules' rule 30:


IOW, in addition to sounding the horn at the crossings, the locomotive bell must also be rung, even if the crossing signal has its own bell. One general rule of thumb is whenever you sound the horn, you must also ring the bell (this is why on modern locomotives, the bell automatically starts ringing when the horn is sounded, aka MSTS' "DoesHornTriggerBell" parameter). The bell is also sounded when moving through a yard, and whenever there are people or workers near the tracks.

Unfortunately, this is very American. It looks like Openrails is starting to turn in that direction.
however, it would be good if it could be adjusted in some way to suit the different railways. Many railroads do not use the bell.

[Traindude]

 Laci1959, on 01 November 2021 - 12:38 AM, said:

Unfortunately, this is very American. It looks like Openrails is starting to turn in that direction.
however, it would be good if it could be adjusted in some way to suit the different railways. Many railroads do not use the bell.

I was only using American railroads as an example, purely for demonstration purposes. I agree, the whole AI horn and bell automation scheme needs to be customizable (perhaps on a route-by-route basis) for the particular region and time period the route is set in...

...And yes, bells are only sometimes used outside North America.